Shah also asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s fight against corruption through the demonetisation decision will bring the party to power in all the five poll-bound states.

Addressing the media about the two-day BJP national executive meeting that began here on Friday, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Parliamentary Board members felicitated Modi for the historic decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

Summarising Shah’s address at the meet, Javadekar said that demonetisation has not only exposed the opposition but also taken away the plank of ‘poor’ from them.

“When the government came to power, the opposition asked it about the steps taken to bring back black money and remove corruption,” Javdekar said, adding that “with the announcement of demonetisation, the government not only curbed black money but also curbed corruption”.

Javdekar also asserted that due to the demonetisation move of the government, fake currency rackets, terror funding, drugs trade and Naxal movement got paralysed.

“It’s a direct attack on corruption,” the Minister for Human Resource Development said.

Hailing the government’s action of conducting surgical strikes across the Line of Control, Javdekar said, “Shah defined the surgical strikes as a historic and bold move under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

“Shah said that after the surgical strikes carried out by the country, the world looked upon India with a different angle and as a nation capable of safeguarding its land, which has always opposed terrorism,” he said.

“The party President hailed both decisions — conducting surgical strikes on terrorists across the border and implementing the demonetisation decision — as historic,” the BJP leader said.

Taking a dig at the opposition party leaders over the surgical strikes, Javdekar said, “After the surgical strikes, some leaders termed it as ‘khoon ki dalali’, while some demanded evidence.”

“Shah also said that decisions should be taken in the interest of the country with a long-term view and not a populist one,” Javadekar told the media.

Mentioning about the hardships of the people during demonetisation, Javdekar said, “Despite facing hardships, having had to stand in queues, people have overwhelmingly supported demonetisation. In fact, during the 50 days of pain, people even voted for the BJP.”

“People have given us massive victories. We have done very well at various polls in West Bengal, Tripura, Maharashtra, Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. Of the 10,000 seats where elections were held, we have won a massive 8,000,” said Javadekar.

“The overwhelming support for demonetisation has not only exposed the opposition but has snatched the plank of ‘poor’ from them,” he said.

The HRD Minister asserted that the party will come to power in all the five states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa, where polls are scheduled between February 4 and March 8.

“In most of the surveys, the BJP is ahead of other parties despite the issue of demonetisation raised in every survey. This shows that the government has the support of the people,” he said.

“Shah also thanked the Prime Minister for his New Year Eve’s address to the nation, in which he announced several measures for senior citizens and housing subsidy scheme, among others,” Javdekar said.

He also said that the ‘Bhim’ mobile application launched by the Prime Minister has been downloaded by more than 70 lakh people across the country and it is a sign that the country is moving towards a less-cash economy.

At the meeting Shah also talked about electoral reforms and advocated simultaneous general and assembly polls.

“Shah also appealed to all the political parties to come forward for the electoral reforms for simultaneous conduct of general and assembly elections,” Javdekar added.